Search Shiawassee County Genealogy Records
Shiawassee County genealogy records are held at the County Clerk's office in Corunna, with vital records going back to 1837 when the county was first organized. Researchers looking for birth, death, and marriage records covering families in central Michigan will find a long run of documents at the county level. This guide covers the clerk's office, what you can access, and online tools to help with Shiawassee County family history research.
Shiawassee County Overview
Shiawassee County Clerk - Vital Records
The Shiawassee County Clerk in Corunna holds the primary genealogy records for the county. Birth, death, and marriage certificates are all kept at this office. You can visit during business hours, call with a specific request, or send a written request by mail. Staff can search records by name and provide copies.
Marriage records go back to 1837, covering the county's entire organized period. Birth and death records start in 1867. Under MCL 333.2882, births within the last 100 years are restricted to qualified individuals. Death records from 1867 forward are fully public. Marriage records are also public, and the 1837 starting date makes them particularly useful for tracing early settlers in the region around Owosso and Corunna.
| Office | Shiawassee County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 208 N. Shiawassee St., Corunna, MI 48817 |
| Phone | 989-743-2241 |
| Fax | 989-743-2489 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
The fee for copies is $15 per record under MCL 333.2884. Certified copies carry the county seal and are used for legal purposes. Plain copies are fine for genealogy work. Mail requests should include a check or money order payable to the county clerk.
Records Available in Shiawassee County
The county clerk holds the main genealogical records for Shiawassee County. Here is what is available and how it is accessed.
| Record Type | Dates | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Birth | 1867-present | Restricted (100 years) |
| Death | 1867-present | Public |
| Marriage | 1837-present | Public |
Death and marriage records are open to anyone. Birth records from the past 100 years require proof of eligibility under MCL 333.2885. The Circuit Court in Corunna holds probate and court records. The Register of Deeds holds land records. Both are in Corunna and can be contacted separately for their specific holdings.
Shiawassee County Historical Society
The Shiawassee County Historical Society maintains local historical records and supports genealogy research. The society works alongside the Owosso Historical Commission, which focuses on records and artifacts from Owosso, the largest city in the county.
Together, these organizations preserve newspapers, family files, photographs, and local histories that can tell you things official records cannot. Old Owosso newspapers in particular are a useful source for obituaries and notices that go back well into the 1800s. For researchers with roots in the Owosso area, a visit to the historical society can be productive after you have worked through the vital records at the county clerk.
Note: The Owosso Historical Commission and the Shiawassee County Historical Society are separate organizations. If you have ancestors from specific townships, check both to see which holds relevant materials.
Online Genealogy Resources for Shiawassee County
Online tools let you search before making a trip to Corunna. Several free databases index Shiawassee County records.
The Michiganology site has death certificates from 1897 to 1952 for Shiawassee County. It is free and maintained by the state. The Archives of Michigan in Lansing holds older records and may have materials not kept locally. The Michiganology vital records index is also worth checking for statewide vital records that include Shiawassee County entries.
The FamilySearch Shiawassee County Wiki lists all known digitized and microfilm record sets for the county. FamilySearch has indexed many Michigan vital records and census records that include Shiawassee County residents. The Shiawassee County MIGenWeb page has local genealogy data, cemetery transcriptions, and surname queries from volunteers with county ties.
State-Level Resources
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) at P.O. Box 30721, Lansing, MI 48909, phone 517-335-8666, can provide certified copies of statewide vital records. For older records and naturalization files, the Archives of Michigan at 702 W. Kalamazoo St., Lansing (phone 517-373-1408) is the right contact. The Library of Michigan supports genealogy with newspaper and reference collections.
Cities in Shiawassee County
Owosso is the largest city in Shiawassee County. Corunna serves as the county seat. Other communities include Perry, Durand, and Laingsburg. None of these communities currently qualify for a dedicated city page on this site. All vital records for Shiawassee County residents go through the County Clerk in Corunna.
Nearby Counties
If your ancestors moved between counties, check the records in these neighboring areas.